1
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Bókony V, Kalina C, Ujhegyi N, Mikó Z, Lefler KK, Vili N, Gál Z, Gabor CR, Hoffmann OI. Does stress make males? An experiment on the role of glucocorticoids in anuran sex reversal. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:172-181. [PMID: 38155497 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmentally sensitive sex determination may help organisms adapt to environmental change but also makes them vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors, with diverse consequences for population dynamics and evolution. The mechanisms translating environmental stimuli to sex are controversial: although several fish experiments supported the mediator role of glucocorticoid hormones, results on some reptiles challenged it. We tested this hypothesis in amphibians by investigating the effect of corticosterone on sex determination in agile frogs (Rana dalmatina). This species is liable to environmental sex reversal whereby genetic females develop into phenotypic males. After exposing tadpoles during sex determination to waterborne corticosterone, the proportion of genetic females with testes or ovotestes increased from 11% to up to 32% at 3 out of 4 concentrations. These differences were not statistically significant except for the group treated with 10 nM corticosterone, and there was no monotonous dose-effect relationship. These findings suggest that corticosterone is unlikely to mediate sex reversal in frogs. Unexpectedly, animals originating from urban habitats had higher sex-reversal and corticosterone-release rates, reduced body mass and development speed, and lower survival compared to individuals collected from woodland habitats. Thus, anthropogenic environments may affect both sex and fitness, and the underlying mechanisms may vary across ectothermic vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Bókony
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csenge Kalina
- Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kinga Katalin Lefler
- Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Nóra Vili
- Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Caitlin R Gabor
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Orsolya Ivett Hoffmann
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
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2
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Orton F, Roberts-Rhodes B, Whatley C, Tyler CR. A review of non-destructive biomonitoring techniques to assess the impacts of pollution on reproductive health in frogs and toads. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115163. [PMID: 37354567 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
In anuran amphibians (frogs and toads), evidence linking pollution to population declines is limited, in particular through impaired reproduction. Here we review the evidence for pollutant-induced alterations on reproductive endpoints in wild anurans with a particular focus on the application of non-destructive endpoints including on sex ratios, male reproductive phenotypes (data are too scarce for females) and reproductive outputs (reflective of mating success). Data evidencing alterations in sex ratio in wild anurans are scarce, however, both feminisation and masculinisation in response to pollution have been reported (seven studies). Male nuptial pad morphology and calling behaviour display high sensitivity to pollutant-exposure and are important features determining male breeding success, however there is considerable variation in these endpoints and inconsistencies in the responses of them to pollution are reported in wild anurans. Data for clutch size are insufficient to assess sensitivity to pollutants (five studies only). However, hatch success and offspring fitness (tadpole survival/development) are sensitive to pollution, with clear linkages to population stability. In conclusion, there are a wide range of non destructive measures with good potential for application to assess/monitor reproductive health in wild anurans, however, a greater understanding of pollutant effects on these endpoints is needed. There measures deserve wider application as they are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement, and as they can be applied non-destructively are widely applicable to our declining anuran populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Orton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik EH26 0QB, UK; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS UK.
| | - Bethany Roberts-Rhodes
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK
| | - Catherine Whatley
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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3
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Nemesházi E, Bókony V. HerpSexDet: the herpetological database of sex determination and sex reversal. Sci Data 2023; 10:377. [PMID: 37311775 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife exhibits various sex-determination systems where sex chromosomes and environmental temperatures may both contribute to individual sexual development. The causes and consequences of this variability are important questions for evolutionary ecology, especially in light of ongoing environmental change. Amphibians and reptiles are emerging as a key group for studying these questions, with new data accumulating acceleratingly. We collected empirical data from earlier databases, reviews and primary literature to create the most up-to-date database on herpetological sex determination. We named our database HerpSexDet, which currently features data on genetic and temperature-dependent sex determination as well as reports on sex reversal for a total of 192 amphibian and 697 reptile species. This dataset, which we will regularly update in the future, facilitates interspecific comparative studies on the evolution of sex determination and its consequences for species-specific traits such as life history and conservation status, and may also help guiding future research by identifying species or higher taxa that are potentially most enlightening for the study of environmentally driven sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1a, A-1160, Vienna, Austria.
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungária Krt. 21, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
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4
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Ujszegi J, Bertalan R, Ujhegyi N, Verebélyi V, Nemesházi E, Mikó Z, Kásler A, Herczeg D, Szederkényi M, Vili N, Gál Z, Hoffmann OI, Bókony V, Hettyey A. "Heat waves" experienced during larval life have species-specific consequences on life-history traits and sexual development in anuran amphibians. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155297. [PMID: 35439501 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extreme temperatures during heat waves can induce mass-mortality events, but can also exert sublethal negative effects by compromising life-history traits and derailing sexual development. Ectothermic animals may, however, also benefit from increased temperatures via enhanced physiological performance and the suppression of cold-adapted pathogens. Therefore, it is crucial to address how the intensity and timing of naturally occurring or human-induced heat waves affect life-history traits and sexual development in amphibians, to predict future effects of climate change and to minimize risks arising from the application of elevated temperature in disease mitigation. We raised agile frog (Rana dalmatina) and common toad (Bufo bufo) tadpoles at 19 °C and exposed them to a simulated heat wave of 28 or 30 °C for six days during one of three ontogenetic periods (early, mid or late larval development). In agile frogs, exposure to 30 °C during early larval development increased mortality. Regardless of timing, all heat-treatments delayed metamorphosis, and exposure to 30 °C decreased body mass at metamorphosis. Furthermore, exposure to 30 °C during any period and to 28 °C late in development caused female-to-male sex reversal, skewing sex ratios strongly towards males. In common toads, high temperature only slightly decreased survival and did not influence phenotypic sex ratio, while it reduced metamorph mass and length of larval development. Juvenile body mass measured 2 months after metamorphosis was not adversely affected by temperature treatments in either species. Our results indicate that heat waves may have devastating effects on amphibian populations, and the severity of these negative consequences, and sensitivity can vary greatly between species and with the timing and intensity of heat. Finally, thermal treatments against cold-adapted pathogens have to be executed with caution, taking into account the thermo-sensitivity of the species and the life stage of animals to be treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Réka Bertalan
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória Verebélyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edina Nemesházi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Herczeg
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márk Szederkényi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Vili
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Orsolya I Hoffmann
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Nemesházi E, Bókony V. Asymmetrical sex reversal: Does the type of heterogamety predict propensity for sex reversal? Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200039. [PMID: 35543235 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Sex reversal, a mismatch between phenotypic and genetic sex, can be induced by chemical and thermal insults in ectotherms. Therefore, climate change and environmental pollution may increase sex-reversal frequency in wild populations, with wide-ranging implications for sex ratios, population dynamics, and the evolution of sex determination. We propose that reconsidering the half-century old theory "Witschi's rule" should facilitate understanding the differences between species in sex-reversal propensity and thereby predicting their vulnerability to anthropogenic environmental change. The idea is that sex reversal should be asymmetrical: more likely to occur in the homogametic sex, assuming that sex-reversed heterogametic individuals would produce new genotypes with reduced fitness. A review of the existing evidence shows that while sex reversal can be induced in both homogametic and heterogametic individuals, the latter seem to require stronger stimuli in several cases. We provide guidelines for future studies on sex reversal to facilitate data comparability and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.,Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
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6
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Nemesházi E, Sramkó G, Laczkó L, Balogh E, Szatmári L, Vili N, Ujhegyi N, Üveges B, Bókony V. Novel genetic sex markers reveal unexpected lack of, and similar susceptibility to, sex reversal in free-living common toads in both natural and anthropogenic habitats. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2032-2043. [PMID: 35146823 PMCID: PMC9544883 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental changes are affecting biodiversity and microevolution worldwide. Ectothermic vertebrates are especially vulnerable, since environmental changes can disrupt their sexual development and cause sex reversal, a mismatch between genetic and phenotypic sex. This can potentially lead to sex-ratio distortion and population decline. Despite these implications, we have scarce empirical knowledge on the incidence of sex reversal in nature. Populations in anthropogenic environments may be exposed to sex-reversing stimuli more frequently, which may lead to higher sex-reversal rate, or alternatively, these populations may adapt to resist sex reversal. We developed PCR-based genetic sex markers for the common toad (Bufo bufo) to assess the prevalence of sex reversal in wild populations living in natural, agricultural and urban habitats, and the susceptibility of the same populations to two ubiquitous estrogenic pollutants in a common-garden experiment. We found negligible sex-reversal frequency in free-living adults despite the presence of various endocrine-disrupting pollutants in their breeding ponds. Individuals from different habitat types showed similar susceptibility to sex reversal in the laboratory: all genetic males developed female phenotype when exposed to 1 µg/L 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) during larval development, whereas no sex reversal occurred in response to 1 ng/L EE2 and a glyphosate-based herbicide with 3 µg/L or 3 mg/L glyphosate. The latter results do not support that populations in anthropogenic habitats would have either increased propensity for or higher tolerance to chemically induced sex reversal. Thus, the extremely low sex-reversal frequency in wild toads compared to other ectothermic vertebrates studied before might indicate idiosyncratic, potentially species-specific resistance to sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István u. 2, 1078, Budapest, Hungary.,Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, 1022, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- MTA-DE Lendület Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- MTA-DE Lendület Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Emese Balogh
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István u. 2, 1078, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lajos Szatmári
- MTA-DE Lendület Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Nóra Vili
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István u. 2, 1078, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, 1022, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, 1022, Budapest, Hungary.,Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István u. 2, 1078, Budapest, Hungary.,Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó u. 15, 1022, Budapest, Hungary
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7
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Ramos L, Antunes A. Decoding sex: Elucidating sex determination and how high-quality genome assemblies are untangling the evolutionary dynamics of sex chromosomes. Genomics 2022; 114:110277. [PMID: 35104609 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is a diverse and widespread process. In gonochoristic species, the differentiation of sexes occurs through diverse mechanisms, influenced by environmental and genetic factors. In most vertebrates, a master-switch gene is responsible for triggering a sex determination network. However, only a few genes have acquired master-switch functions, and this process is associated with the evolution of sex-chromosomes, which have a significant influence in evolution. Additionally, their highly repetitive regions impose challenges for high-quality sequencing, even using high-throughput, state-of-the-art techniques. Here, we review the mechanisms involved in sex determination and their role in the evolution of species, particularly vertebrates, focusing on sex chromosomes and the challenges involved in sequencing these genomic elements. We also address the improvements provided by the growth of sequencing projects, by generating a massive number of near-gapless, telomere-to-telomere, chromosome-level, phased assemblies, increasing the number and quality of sex-chromosome sequences available for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Ramos
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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8
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Bókony V, Ujhegyi N, Mikó Z, Erös R, Hettyey A, Vili N, Gál Z, Hoffmann OI, Nemesházi E. Sex Reversal and Performance in Fitness-Related Traits During Early Life in Agile Frogs. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.745752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex reversal is a mismatch between genetic sex (sex chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (reproductive organs and secondary sexual traits). It can be induced in various ectothermic vertebrates by environmental perturbations, such as extreme temperatures or chemical pollution, experienced during embryonic or larval development. Theoretical studies and recent empirical evidence suggest that sex reversal may be widespread in nature and may impact individual fitness and population dynamics. So far, however, little is known about the performance of sex-reversed individuals in fitness-related traits compared to conspecifics whose phenotypic sex is concordant with their genetic sex. Using a novel molecular marker set for diagnosing genetic sex in agile frogs (Rana dalmatina), we investigated fitness-related traits in larvae and juveniles that underwent spontaneous female-to-male sex reversal in the laboratory. We found only a few differences in early life growth, development, and larval behavior between sex-reversed and sex-concordant individuals, and altogether these differences did not clearly support either higher or lower fitness prospects for sex-reversed individuals. Putting these results together with earlier findings suggesting that sex reversal triggered by heat stress may be associated with low fitness in agile frogs, we propose the hypothesis that the fitness consequences of sex reversal may depend on its etiology.
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9
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Zhao W, Liu T, Liu Y, Wang H, Wang R, Ma Q, Dong H, Bi X. The significance of biomass allocation to population growth of the invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida with different densities. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:175. [PMID: 34511075 PMCID: PMC8436485 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01908-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida are globally distributed harmful and invasive weeds. High density clusters play an important role in their invasion. For these two species, the early settled populations are distributed at low densities, but they can rapidly achieve high population densities in a short period of time. However, their response to intraspecific competition to improve the fitness for rapid growth and maintenance of high population densities remains unclear. Therefore, to determine how these species form and maintain high population densities, individual biomass allocations patterns between different population densities (low and high), and plasticity during seedling, vegetative, breeding and mature stages were compared. In 2019, we harvested seeds at different population densities and compared them, and in 2020, we compared the number of regenerated plants across the two population densities. Results Most biomass was invested in the stems of both species. Ambrosia trifida had the highest stem biomass distribution, of up to 78%, and the phenotypic plasticity of the stem was the highest. Path analysis demonstrated that at low-density, total biomass was the biggest contributor to seed production, but stem and leaf biomass was the biggest contributors to high-density populations. The number of seeds produced per plant was high in low-density populations, while the seed number per unit area was huge in high-density populations. In the second year, the number of low-density populations increased significantly. A. artemisiifolia and A. trifida accounted for 75.6% and 68.4% of the mature populations, respectively. Conclusions High input to the stem is an important means to regulate the growth of the two species to cope with different densities. These two species can ensure reproductive success and produce appropriate seed numbers. Therefore, they can maintain a stable population over time and quickly form cluster advantages. In the management, early detection of both species and prevention of successful reproduction by chemical and mechanical means are necessary to stop cluster formation and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxuan Zhao
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Tong Liu
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China. .,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hanyue Wang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ruili Wang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qianqian Ma
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hegan Dong
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xuyi Bi
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.,Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
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10
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Edmands S. Sex Ratios in a Warming World: Thermal Effects on Sex-Biased Survival, Sex Determination, and Sex Reversal. J Hered 2021; 112:155-164. [PMID: 33585893 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rising global temperatures threaten to disrupt population sex ratios, which can in turn cause mate shortages, reduce population growth and adaptive potential, and increase extinction risk, particularly when ratios are male biased. Sex ratio distortion can then have cascading effects across other species and even ecosystems. Our understanding of the problem is limited by how often studies measure temperature effects in both sexes. To address this, the current review surveyed 194 published studies of heat tolerance, finding that the majority did not even mention the sex of the individuals used, with <10% reporting results for males and females separately. Although the data are incomplete, this review assessed phylogenetic patterns of thermally induced sex ratio bias for 3 different mechanisms: sex-biased heat tolerance, temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), and temperature-induced sex reversal. For sex-biased heat tolerance, documented examples span a large taxonomic range including arthropods, chordates, protists, and plants. Here, superior heat tolerance is more common in females than males, but the direction of tolerance appears to be phylogenetically fluid, perhaps due to the large number of contributing factors. For TSD, well-documented examples are limited to reptiles, where high temperature usually favors females, and fishes, where high temperature consistently favors males. For temperature-induced sex reversal, unambiguous cases are again limited to vertebrates, and high temperature usually favors males in fishes and amphibians, with mixed effects in reptiles. There is urgent need for further work on the full taxonomic extent of temperature-induced sex ratio distortion, including joint effects of the multiple contributing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Edmands
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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